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7 Reasons Work Stress & Well-Being Made Noise in 2013

When Gallup announced 70% of the U.S. workforce was either disengaged or miserable in its 2013 State of the American Workplace Report, perhaps it was not an astounding revelation in a new world of work governed by uncertainty.

A Snapshot

Work overload, lack of career advancement, stagnant salaries, an increasing skills-gap and the complexity of a hi-tech global marketplace have all arguably played a roll in an underwhelmed and sometimes stressed-out workforce. After all, 65% of workers cite work as a significant source of stress, with one-third of workers chronically stressed (APA 2013).

Looks like the business community is looking more closely at well-being as a performance driver in the workplace. A salvo of scientific research in stress and creativity, along with statistics reflecting big business’ desperation to retain and engage talent, challenged the traditional business model. Read more: Well-Being Jettisons To Critical Performance Metric In Workplace.

3. Work-Life Balance is Under Hi-Tech Pressure

The work-life merge seems to be gasping for some air under the exponentially expanding ocean of technology. In Glassdoor’s third annual Top 25 Companies for Work-Life Balance, the jobs and career community found that 24/7 technology was making it “tougher to maintain a healthy work-life balance.” Read more: Glassdoor: Digital Exuberance Hampers Work-Life Balance

4. Employee Wellness and Morale As Potential Profit Drivers

The work-life balance debate roars on. Should employees lean-in or lean-out these days? Perception is everything, most recently at Arianna Huffington’s #ThirdMetric conference. Defining success and a workplace culture are important variables in the new world of work. A survey by Virgin HealthMiles Inc. (now Pulse) and Workforce Management Magazine, suggests as much. 77% of employees responded that “health and wellness programs positively impact the culture at work.” Read more: Challenge 2013: Linking Employee Wellness, Morale And The Bottom-Line

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Judy, Thanks for addressing the impact stress has not only on our work but our on our physical health outside of work. This year we talked a lot about fostering happiness at work via positive peer-to-peer-based recognition and rewards. We noticed an interesting trend that links back to the happy and healthy experience of paying it forward. Employees are requesting more altruistic ways to “cash in” their company perks/rewards typically applied towards products or gift cards. For example, some employees are applying their earned perks towards team-based experiences like an office yoga class, outdoor outings, or even a team happy hour. Other employees are requesting ways to give back via donations to community or global causes: http://youearnedit.com/blog/16501-giving-at-work-and-employee-engagement-programs/

The trend is really exciting as it not only empowers employees to give positive reinforcement to their peers, but it also empowers them to apply company perks towards things that matter to them, that build camaraderie, and that benefit their communities.

I like the pay-it-forward mentality. I agree that it’s likely something we’ll see more of in 2014. But I wonder if the concept in the form you speak about is a bit progressive for most companies that have not even tackled employee wellness and work-life balance in its most basic form. Your comments give us yet another idea to monitor in the new world of work. @JudyMartin8

The thermodynamics of burnout are simple You can’t give what you aint got.

If you don’t pay consistent attention to your own self care – physical, emotional and spiritual – you have no reserves from which to give your best.

If your organization puts something or someone else above you (as in “the patient always comes first”) – your workplace burnout rates are too high and your company is suffering multiple injuries to the bottom line, via substandard performance and increased turnover to name just a pair.

Taking excellent care of your staff/employees is a fundamental business advantage in any industry. In healthcare, this will distinguish the top performers in the years ahead, even though it is extremely rare at the moment. @dikedrummond

Hello Doc, Thanks for your views here. In firm agreement. As you said, sadly the exception which is why it’s so important for individuals to take self-care more seriously. This line particularly struck me..

Taking excellent care of your staff/employees is a fundamental business advantage in any industry. In healthcare, this will distinguish the top performers in the years ahead..

“Stress” is actually created by many employers. There are places where it would be great to work except the powers that be can’t handle that concept. Unless they have dominated, intimidated, and frightened their staff into what they believe is a “tight ship” they don’t think things are running well. From my first summer job to the last of my former career, every workplace was RUINED by the insecure, incompetent, jealous, micromanaging, corrupt, power mad “managers” and “upper echelon” martinets. They got paid twice my salary for doing half of my work.

Work Stress is a difficult conundrum. So many people are concerned with losing their jobs, so they tolerate inconsistent behavior in a culture that might not be perceived as supportive of employees’ emotional and physical well-being. Also – where is the line between how an individual should better respond to work stress and the responsibility of the company to help out in that arena. Especially for smaller businesses, it’s a dance to figure out how to help workers manage stress without breaking the bank or creating a perception that a workplace has a problem. It can be dicey territory. But if companies and individuals instead focused on enhancing well-being perhaps that’s more digestible. It’s an ongoing conversation and a huge issue which doesn’t yet have one solid answer. Most importantly, the conversations are being held because in the end, a healthy and happy employee will simple be more productive and perform better. Those spread sheets are a callin’!!! Thanks for your comments, @judyMartin8

Hi Judy, Thanks for this great article! High fives on all seven points, especially the role of mindfulness. We find that one of the most accessible, free and easy to incorporate ways of generating wellness in the workplace (and life in general) is by having a mindfulness practice. Something as simple as taking a few moments each day to focus on breathing; watching deep breaths come and go while trying to let thoughts pass like clouds is a great start. Yes, this takes practice, but besides that, nothing else is needed. We can start right here, right now and find other places (lunch, stuck in traffic, waiting for an appointment) to pause, breathe and see where we truly are. Teachers help, there are plenty of apps, books, groovy gear and other accessories to power our pursuits and deepen our understanding, but as sure as we will each take another breath, we can begin being more mindful in our work and life whenever we choose. The benefits are endless. Thanks again, be well, Eli Shostak

Hi Eli, I’m with you on the power of the breath. It’s the oldest tool and I find the most effective for those learning to meditate. Ultimately – it’s whatever works for the individual. I truly believe that the space between the inhalation and the exhalation is the cream of endless serenity. The more we stay in the present – the more connections we make in the brain toward building resilience. It’s quite the quandary in our busy world where – as you said – there are so many aps to choose from. Being mindful in the world is probably the practice that can benefit us the most. Thanks for your thoughts! @judyMartin8